ENCATC Advances in Cultural Management and Policy – serie

Faced with a depleted planet and a series of connected crises, socially minded agents and entities within the world of culture and the arts are reacting from within. With insights from sociology, economics, and cultural management and policy, this book aims to chronicle the journey of SMart – a cultural and artistic social enterprise now present in eight European countries – in order to illustrate such organisation’s efforts to achieve its potential for social innovation and transformation. Tackling the endemic precariousness and intermittency of work through innovative arrangements for cultural workers and artists has been central to these efforts. In many cases, however, this activism not only had a direct impact at the level of individual and collective labour, but also has transformed the ways culture is ‘governed’.Readers of this book will better understand the connection between social innovation and culture and the arts; gain awareness of the trends and transformations within the field of culture and cultural work and their connection with institutional arrangements; and critically engage with the processes, challenges and benefits of scaling up and diffusing social innovation. The debates presented will be of relevance to scholars and students across disciplines, policy makers at both EU and national levels, practitioners and social activists.

Faced with a depleted planet and a series of connected crises, socially minded agents and entities within the world of culture and the arts are reacting from within. With insights from sociology, economics, and cultural management and policy, this book aims to chronicle the journey of SMart – a cultural and artistic social enterprise now present in eight European countries – in order to illustrate such organisation’s efforts to achieve its potential for social innovation and transformation. Tackling the endemic precariousness and intermittency of work through innovative arrangements for cultural workers and artists has been central to these efforts. In many cases, however, this activism not only had a direct impact at the level of individual and collective labour, but also has transformed the ways culture is ‘governed’.Readers of this book will better understand the connection between social innovation and culture and the arts; gain awareness of the trends and transformations within the field of culture and cultural work and their connection with institutional arrangements; and critically engage with the processes, challenges and benefits of scaling up and diffusing social innovation. The debates presented will be of relevance to scholars and students across disciplines, policy makers at both EU and national levels, practitioners and social activists.

Cultural governance is currently regarded as a transversal element of public policy in Europe. This book brings together academics and policy practitioners to provide new insights into the field, exploring its contemporary dynamics, dilemmas and challenges.In light of the Cyprus Presidency in 2026, the authors reflect on the breadth and boundaries of cultural governance in a European perspective, the role of international institutions, such as UNESCO and the EU, and the frameworks and dilemmas of cultural governance as a dedicated practice. Particular attention is given to the relationship between culture and human creativity, to cultural rights and to climate breakdown, placing cultural governance at the heart of integrated public policy.As a key contribution that enriches the field of cultural policy, this book is essential reading for academics and offers guidance for concerted action for policymakers and legislators.

Cultural governance is currently regarded as a transversal element of public policy in Europe. This book brings together academics and policy practitioners to provide new insights into the field, exploring its contemporary dynamics, dilemmas and challenges.In light of the Cyprus Presidency in 2026, the authors reflect on the breadth and boundaries of cultural governance in a European perspective, the role of international institutions, such as UNESCO and the EU, and the frameworks and dilemmas of cultural governance as a dedicated practice. Particular attention is given to the relationship between culture and human creativity, to cultural rights and to climate breakdown, placing cultural governance at the heart of integrated public policy.As a key contribution that enriches the field of cultural policy, this book is essential reading for academics and offers guidance for concerted action for policymakers and legislators.

This book uncovers the processes at play in the development of cultural policies, projects and networks in spaces at the edge of their countries, marked by their proximity with a borderline.On a subject which is studied mainly in North America and Western Europe and based on individual case studies, its originality lies in offering a comparative view on the subject, as well as in comparing a European case – the France-Germany borderlands – to a South American case – the Brazil-Uruguay borderlands. Through a multi-sited ethnographic study, the author develops an analysis of the formal and informal processes and networks which sustain this cultural action, looking at the relative contribution of processes led by institutions, cultural agents and the civil society.This book provides theoretical tools for the analysis of the way cultural ecosystems function in borderlands and is valuable reading for scholars of cultural policy, geography and arts management.

This book uncovers the processes at play in the development of cultural policies, projects and networks in spaces at the edge of their countries, marked by their proximity with a borderline.On a subject which is studied mainly in North America and Western Europe and based on individual case studies, its originality lies in offering a comparative view on the subject, as well as in comparing a European case – the France-Germany borderlands – to a South American case – the Brazil-Uruguay borderlands. Through a multi-sited ethnographic study, the author develops an analysis of the formal and informal processes and networks which sustain this cultural action, looking at the relative contribution of processes led by institutions, cultural agents and the civil society.This book provides theoretical tools for the analysis of the way cultural ecosystems function in borderlands and is valuable reading for scholars of cultural policy, geography and arts management.

This book engages with contemporary cultural production in Africa, focusing on theatre in Sierra Leone as main case study. The author provides coverage of, and insights into, such themes as cultural globalisation, commodification, the global creative economy, culture and development, international relations and contemporary cultural production in Sierra Leone within the context of local and global flows of people, media, images, technologies, finance and ideas.Combining the analysis of theatre in Sierra Leone and its aesthetics with its policy, structural and institutional context, this book highlights in much detail and nuance the interconnectedness between the micro- and the macro-levels of cultural production, between the local and the global, and between aesthetics, politics, policy, governance structures and institutions. This book links the particular findings from the author’s fieldwork to larger issues of contemporary local cultural production within the context of globalisation, commodification and decolonisation; adds a postcolonial perspective to existing theories and approaches to cultural production, management and policy, which is still largely missing from the existing discourse; and also contributes to addressing the gap in the knowledge about the context of contemporary cultural productions in diverse African contexts.This book will be particularly useful for both theatre scholars with an interest in the political economy of theatre and, more broadly, those seeking to understand the nuanced challenges and opportunities faced by policymakers, artists and arts managers to embrace the cultural and creative industries in this context. It also offers excellent insights for policymakers who wish to improve their understanding and interventions beyond superficial ‘best practice’ snippets and simplified ‘success stories’.

This book engages with contemporary cultural production in Africa, focusing on theatre in Sierra Leone as main case study. The author provides coverage of, and insights into, such themes as cultural globalisation, commodification, the global creative economy, culture and development, international relations and contemporary cultural production in Sierra Leone within the context of local and global flows of people, media, images, technologies, finance and ideas.Combining the analysis of theatre in Sierra Leone and its aesthetics with its policy, structural and institutional context, this book highlights in much detail and nuance the interconnectedness between the micro- and the macro-levels of cultural production, between the local and the global, and between aesthetics, politics, policy, governance structures and institutions. This book links the particular findings from the author’s fieldwork to larger issues of contemporary local cultural production within the context of globalisation, commodification and decolonisation; adds a postcolonial perspective to existing theories and approaches to cultural production, management and policy, which is still largely missing from the existing discourse; and also contributes to addressing the gap in the knowledge about the context of contemporary cultural productions in diverse African contexts.This book will be particularly useful for both theatre scholars with an interest in the political economy of theatre and, more broadly, those seeking to understand the nuanced challenges and opportunities faced by policymakers, artists and arts managers to embrace the cultural and creative industries in this context. It also offers excellent insights for policymakers who wish to improve their understanding and interventions beyond superficial ‘best practice’ snippets and simplified ‘success stories’.

This book explores the transformative role of networks within the European Union (EU) over the past three decades, particularly in relation to the cultural and creative sectors, examining how informal collaborations evolved into structured entities that have reshaped EU cultural governance and fostered cross-border cooperation among cultural professionals. Employing case studies, the book reveals how EU-funded networks influence local creative practices and policy discourse and drive ideational change. It introduces new analytical frameworks to assess networks as agents of multilevel, cross-sectoral transformation.By blending institutional and ethnographic analyses, the book challenges traditional views of EU cultural policy, arguing that cultural networks not only promote European integration, but also balance economic, cultural, social and environmental priorities. It positions these networks as central to the development of a transnational European cultural space, advancing both symbolic and structural integration.This book is essential reading for scholars, policymakers and cultural professionals, providing fresh insights into the evolving dynamics between cultural networks, policymaking and creative ecosystems in Europe. The analysis offers a unique perspective for a strategic conceptualisation of cultural policymaking, envisioning a future where cultural actors play a pivotal role in shaping the European cultural landscape and governance.

This book explores the transformative role of networks within the European Union (EU) over the past three decades, particularly in relation to the cultural and creative sectors, examining how informal collaborations evolved into structured entities that have reshaped EU cultural governance and fostered cross-border cooperation among cultural professionals. Employing case studies, the book reveals how EU-funded networks influence local creative practices and policy discourse and drive ideational change. It introduces new analytical frameworks to assess networks as agents of multilevel, cross-sectoral transformation.By blending institutional and ethnographic analyses, the book challenges traditional views of EU cultural policy, arguing that cultural networks not only promote European integration, but also balance economic, cultural, social and environmental priorities. It positions these networks as central to the development of a transnational European cultural space, advancing both symbolic and structural integration.This book is essential reading for scholars, policymakers and cultural professionals, providing fresh insights into the evolving dynamics between cultural networks, policymaking and creative ecosystems in Europe. The analysis offers a unique perspective for a strategic conceptualisation of cultural policymaking, envisioning a future where cultural actors play a pivotal role in shaping the European cultural landscape and governance.

Since the 1990s, cultural management and policy in Europe have undergone transformative changes. This insightful book offers a comprehensive journey through that evolution, blending historical insights with an analysis of current trends to illuminate the future of the field.The book also highlights the pivotal role of cultural networks in shaping and advancing culture, creativity, and heritage, bridging academic inquiry with real-world practice. Through a focused case study on the European Network on Cultural Management and Policy, ENCATC, it provides a unique perspective on how networks shape policy and management strategies across Europe.A must-read for scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and students, this book delivers key insights into the ever-changing landscape of arts and cultural management.

Since the 1990s, cultural management and policy in Europe have undergone transformative changes. This insightful book offers a comprehensive journey through that evolution, blending historical insights with an analysis of current trends to illuminate the future of the field.The book also highlights the pivotal role of cultural networks in shaping and advancing culture, creativity, and heritage, bridging academic inquiry with real-world practice. Through a focused case study on the European Network on Cultural Management and Policy, ENCATC, it provides a unique perspective on how networks shape policy and management strategies across Europe.A must-read for scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and students, this book delivers key insights into the ever-changing landscape of arts and cultural management.